Soundings Trade Only this week at IBEX hosted a Women in the Industry Summit and an Industry Leadership Panel. Approximately 150 people attended the events, which opened with a lunch-and-learn session. The Leadership Panel followed and consisted of women from many segments of the marine industry.
The luncheon was headlined by leadership coach Alicia M. Rodriguez, who spoke about effective communication, personal growth, skills to effectively navigate career hurdles and more. The luncheon was moderated by Soundings Trade Only vice president and general manager Michele Goldsmith.
“I would like to thank the more than 150 attendees of our Women in the Industry Summit, Leadership Panel and awards ceremony, our panelists, summit leader and moderator Alicia Rodriguez, and sponsors who made this day of special events possible,” said Michele Goldsmith, vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group. “This was the first large-scale event focused on leadership for women working in the marine industry. The goal was to empower the attendees, both women and men, with new tools, skills, ideas and perspectives.”
During the panel discussion, Rodriguez, president of Sophia Associates, pitched questions to a panel of seven women who serve in leadership positions. The panelists included Joan Maxwell, president, Regulator Marine; Malin Schwartz, senior vice president, Volvo Penta; Angela Pilkington, CFO, Correct Craft; Abbey Heimensen, vice president of marketing, MarineMax; Michelle Dauchy, vice president of customer experience, Mercury Marine; Paulee Day, chief legal and human resources officer, West Marine; and Shelley Tubaugh, vice president of marketing, Grady-White.
“We are hearing from women who are implementing the skills learned at our events into their lives, and they continue to tell us about how they have transformed and succeeded,” Michele said. “The programs offer women an opportunity to gather as a community, ask questions and learn.”
The next Women in the Industry session is scheduled for Nov. 16 at Metstrade from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Elicium Theatre at RAI Amsterdam. Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for registered attendees.
Metstrade runs Nov. 15-17.
Event sponsors included Volvo Penta, Grady-White Boats, Roswell, Regulator Marine, Simona, Sea Tow, Correct Craft, Mercury Marine, MarineMax, West Marine and MRAA.
